Double break disconnect switch
AssigneeCleaveland/Price Inc.
InventorPeter M. Kowalik
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A double break disconnect switch with a novel drive mechanism that swings the blade open and closed in a conventional manner but the rotation with respect to its longitudinal axis is unique. This mechanism uses a unique cam to rotate the blade about a hinge axis. The blade bearings are of very small diameter to reduce friction and are offset from the blade center of gravity so as to use the blade's weight to keep the blade in disengagement with the break jaw contacts when the switch is opened. The blade bearings are not around the diameter of the blade, the friction does not increase as current rating increases. A camming mechanism is profiled to give maximum rotational torque to the blade as it compresses the contact fingers as the switch closes to its final position.
Claims15
In combination with a double break disconnect switch comprising a drive arrangement including a rotatable support assembly including at least one rotatable insulator and a lever for imparting rotation to the at least one rotatable insulator, a bearing arrangement mounted on the drive arrangement, said drive arrangement via the lever in relative movement relationship with respect to the bearing arrangement, a switch blade assembly including a switch blade supported by the bearing arrangement and rotatable with respect to the longitudinal axis thereof for initial opening of the double break disconnect switch and for final closing of the double break disconnect switch and the switch blade assembly arranged for a transverse swinging movement for final opening and initial closing of the double break disconnect switch, a contact terminal affixed at each end of said switch blade, a pair of spaced resilient contact jaws for receiving each contact terminal, each contact terminal engageable with one of the contact jaws in a pressure contact relationship during final closing of the switch blade assembly and disengageable from one of the contact jaws when the switch blade assembly is initially opened, the improvement which comprises:
- the bearing arrangement including means for hinging the switch blade assembly for rotation of the switch blade with a predetermined minimum torque about a hinge axis positioned outside the outer surface of the switch blade and parallel to the longitudinal center axis of the switch blade and offset from the center of gravity of the switch blade assembly for initial opening of the double break disconnect switch and for final closing of the double break disconnect switch,
- the bearing arrangement including a switch blade support member mounted on the rotatable support assembly for co-rotatable transverse movement therewith during the transverse swinging movement of the switch blade, the bearing arrangement including a cam means for imparting the transverse swinging movement to the switch blade assembly and for imparting a rotational movement thereto with respect to the hinge axis of the switch blade during final closing or initial opening of the double break disconnect switch,
- each of the contact terminals having a longitudinal axis that is collinear with the hinge axis.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.